If you want to keep rocking, stay active

When I took over the role as manager for Bäackpain the band was in bad shape. Kylie and Ben were totally out of it, they spent most of their days in bed. They could hardly move, let alone play their instruments. It was as if they’d simply given up. But I soon straightened them out.

Don’t take back pain lying down.

While researching back pain I learnt that resting for more than a couple of days won’t aid your recovery. Trying to reduce the pain by avoiding your daily activities can lead to a much longer recovery time and long-term back problems. After all, the longer someone is off work with back pain, the less likely it is that they will return to work.

So you should try and continue with your normal levels of day-to-day activities, using simple pain relief if needed - manipulative treatment can help. Through a gradual return to work, and with a modified daily routine, I was able to speed up the band’s recovery. Here’s my little list of do’s and don’ts:

• Do stay active as usual, if possible. But see your doctor if the pain persists or suddenly gets worse
• Do take simple pain relief
• Do speak to your manager or your safety representative and, if necessary, discuss what can be done to help you stay at work
• Do find out about back pain
• Do stay active and try to exercise

• Don't take to your bed and wait for the pain to go away. The sooner you get back to normal activity the better
• Don't worry. Staying active is unlikely to damage your back
• Don't avoid activity simply as a way of avoiding the pain - hurt does not always mean harm
• There are times when you shouldn’t remain active. Don’t exercise if you are suffering from:-
  • Single-joint problems of the lower extremity
  • Inflammatory arthritis, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis
  • Obvious or diagnosed osteoarthritis
  • Post-fracture or post-dislocation cases
  • Post-surgical cases
  • Headache or vertigo as primary complaint
  • Musculoskeletal disorders awaiting surgery
  • Musculoskeletal disorders resulting from serious trauma
  • Serious co-existing morbidity